SYDNEY.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 630, 16 August 1851, Page 3

SYDNEY.

n.M.S. Havannaii.—TheCcSfrrope, Captain Sir E. Home, having arrived to relieve the Havannah. on this station (which vessel will sail for England about August 10th,) it may not be out of place to bear testimony to the deserved popularity of Captain Erskine and his officers, during the time they have been cruising in these seas. The departure of the Havannah will be much regretted by all classes of the community, for not only have the commander and officers won the respect and esteem of all with whom they have become acquainted in society, by their kind and gentlemanly conduct on all occasions, but their readiness at all times to afford assistance to the shipping interests in the colony, and the valuable services they have frequently rendered, has placed the mercantile community under the greatest obligation. As an instance of Captain Erskine’s obliging disposition, we are requested to mention, that on his learning on the 10th instant that the Brig Algerine (lately wrecked in North Harbour) could not be floated from the reef until about 100 bags of cargo lying on the kelson had been got out, and which it was impossible to reach, he at once most handsomely offered to send the gunner of the Havannah, with the diving apparatus, to get out the cargo and a quantity of iron ballast, and to float and bring the vessel to a place of safety, and this without making any charges for salvage. The agents, with the advice of Lloyd’s agent, at once accented this liberal offer, as being the most advantageous to all concerned ; and the next morning the first lieutenant (Mr. Hannant) aud several: other officers, with 40 men, were at work on tne wrecK, and persevered among many difficulties, until the Algerine was safely placed in Darling Harbour, waiting the instruction from the underwriters as to what is to be done with her.—S. Jf. Herald,

[A correspondence between Messrs Smith, Campbell, & Co., agents of the Algerine, and Captain Erskine, is published -in the Herald, from which it appears that the agents of the vessel forwarded to Captain Erskine the sum of £52 : 10s., to be preseated to the crew of the Havannah, in acknowledgement of the services rendered by them under the direction of Mr. Hannant and the officers in floating and towing the Algerine to a place of safety.]